Accounting and account-adjusting device.



B. a. STARE, F. H. WELLING L w. coNoT/ER.

ACCOUNTING AND ACCOUNT ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l5. 1915.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

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ACCOUNTING AND ACCOUNT ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY I5. I9I5.

X TRUST COMPANY HOTEL RECORD SLIP 'Deposl'ed In Bonk,

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To fa I LIST EACH ITEM SEPARAT ETY I ya' lns STA PAT T OFFICE.

:BURTON RV'STARE, OF SEATTLE-WASHINGTON, FRANCIS HARVEY WELLING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AND WILBUR CONOVER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGN- ORS 'IO NATIONAL HOTEL SCRIP COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ACCOUNTING AND ACCOUNT-ADJUSTINO DEVICE.

Patented Nov. 26. 15H 8.

Application filed July 15, 19154 Sierial No. 39.969.

This invention relatesl particularly to de-l vices for use by traveling-men, vwhereby hotel expenses may be met and accountmgs of hotel expenses rendered in such manner as to render it unnecessary for theV travelingmanto carry on his person any .large sums of money and to insure regular and proper accountings tothe employer. Y

The primary object of the invention 1s to provide simple and effective means for enabling the above-indicated result to be obtained.

The inventionv contemplates the issuance of scrip-books by a company (X Hotel Semp Company,lfor illustration),V which has, or will enter into, contract relations with hotels throughout the country, providing for the acceptance of such scrip by the hotels in lieu of currency and' subject to a certain discount. Such scrip books are purchased bythe employer and furnished by the employer to his traveling-salesmen, by. whom the scrip is used, in lieu of currency, m payment of hotel expenses. Suitable provision is made to insure against fraudulent use of the scrip, and the scrip, as used, is indorsed on the back with the hotel statements, showing the itemized expense accounts.

The invention contemplates an arrangement by the scrip-issuing company with one or inore"pi'i1ici1ml banks or depositaries, whereby scripl will be redeemed when present-ed at said depositaries. For illustration, the l'nited States may be divided into western, central and eastern zone, and arrangements may bfmade for a depositary in each one of said zones. Provision is made whereby the scrip/received by any hotel may be,

by that hotel, deposited in a local bank; A

and the scrlp may pass through the clearing house and eventually reach one of the depositaries, whence it is returned to the scripissuing company and finally returned to the `imlica'ted at 3 in Fig. 0.

employer, who thus is able t0 receive the. itemized hotel expense accounts ot' his s'everal vemployees. The invention provides means for enabling a system ol' this character toibo put intopractical operation. Such means are illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents, iu open condition. a scI'ip-book; Fig. 2, a portion ot' the scrip taken from the scripbook and having'rap-A plied thereto a hotel statennnt, showing itemized expenses: Fig. 3, a broken plan view of the 'scrip-book roven-Fig'. i, an officelle envelop for use in the ollice ot' the scrip-issuing company; Fig. 5, a reverseside view of the same envelop; Fig. a se@ tional View illustrating the manner in which the scrip is folded in the srripdioolt: Fig, 7, an end view of the scrip-boolt in folded oondition; Fig. 8, a face view of a. hotel deposit envelop for use by the hotel accepting the sci-ip, the envelop being shown brolteuly to expose a carbon slip and a hotel record slip contained in the envelop; and Fig. 0, a view of the hotel record slip removed from. the envelop 'shown in Fig. 8.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the invention comprises a scrip-boolc A; a hotel statement B; anl oilice file envelop C; and a hotel deposit envelop D adapted to receive therein a hotel record slip D and a carbon slip D?. l

The scrip-book A preferably comprises a cover l and folded sci-ip 2 contained therein. The cover 1 preferably comprises a back portion 1 and flaps 1* and 1'. The

having lilies of folding 1d.

The scrip 2 may comprise a longstrip o paper folded in the manner of a mileage ticket and having its bottom or tinal end pasted in the back portion of the cover, as

The sci-ip comprises an ollice record coupon 2 at the free or upper end of the scrip, and thesoripproper 2l. which is provided with aseries of value indicating figures 4, starting,Y withvive cents and ranging as high in value as may be desired. For illustration, it is convenient cover m'ay bc made of thin linen cardboard,

to usea scrip having value indicating char-jf acters which run to the amount of $1070.00.

The ofiice record coupon 2 is provided with a serial number blank 5 (shown as con,`

taining the serial number 36345), thescripproper 2bwithr similar serial nungiber blanks. 5, receiving the saine serial number; and

the section 1'2 of the cover is` provided with a serial number blank 5"wltbh receives the same serial number.' Thccharacter W. is used to indicate the Westend-zone, for instance.

The oflicerecord coupon 2"" is' provided witha blank (3 for the nainecof the employee who is the holder of the sciiip; with a blank t@6a for the name of the employer; and" with a blank (Sb for the signature of the employee. Thus, in thirillustration given. the sci-ip is shown as issued to John Doc, whose tirin Doe & Company, ot' Chicago, villinois: and the coupon is signed by John Doe at the El is provided for the signature of the holder.

A signature blank 10 is also provided for the naine oi the employer purchasing' the scrip-book. llpon the inner surface. ot the cover-set--tion l are also printed the words.

(lood in payment for the following itemsi; and at the. point 11, the items for which the scrip to he accepted bv the hotel. While the scrip illustrated in Fig. `6 is short, it

will be understood that the scrip mayv bc ot' any Adesired length. t

"l`he hotel statement B may be in the form of a blank bearingr the name of the hotel (in the illustration ,givenv1 the Z Hotel, Stockto'n,.

Cal.) a date blank. indicated at l2; and an ite-m list, indicated at 13. A blank 13 is also provided for the signature of the holder o't'tlie scrip. ln the illustration given, the hotel statement is shown printed on a sticker. which'may be applied to the rear side o't` the portion o't' the scrip used in p ayment of the. hotel bill. 'lf desired, however, the hotel may be provided with a stamp hearing;r thereon the printed torin` which may be stamped upon the back of the scrip Q. the charges for the several items being illedin with -ink.

Figi. il shows brok'eiiliv the cover 1. the lower portion ot' the inner Ysurface ot' Ithe `back of which is provided with a personal description table let, upon which may be. noted the personal lcharac-teristics of the holder 'of the scrip-book.

The otlice tile envelop C bears the naine of the scripqssuing company, andis providedv Witha serial number blank 15, wliicl'i. re-` ceivesthe same serial` number as the. scripbook with which it`co`riiesiponds, namely, the nuinber 36135. Theen'velop also bears the inscription $100.00 serip file, indicating the total face value .fof the' corresponding scrip-book. The envelop also is proviided with a blank 1G, for the signature of the original holder, and with a blank 17, for the name of his firm or employer. side of the envelop is further provided with columns 1S, 19, and 20, at the upper ends ot .which are respectively, the words` Hoteh Number, Amount. At the bottom of the column 20 is a blank 21 for the total; and

there is also provided af'blank 22 for the date when the. transaction is Completed by .the return of the las/t portion of the scrip. As shown in Fig. 5, th/eJ reverse surface-otl the envelop C may /be provided with a gumined portion 23, /upon which the office record coupon 2 of the scrip-book may be pasted.

The hotel deposit envelop `D bears the inscription Hotel deposit envelop, also the inscription Accepted X Hotel scrip here-l inl; also a blank 2i for the naine of the bank through which the scrip is cleared. The envelop further bears the inscription Payable at X'Trust Company, San Francisco, and is provided with a scrip number column 25,

.and with an amount column QG. The columns bear at their top, respectively, the words "Scrip book number and Amount of face value.

Total face value, and below this is a blank 28, set opposite the words Total net' value". The envelop also bears the inscription, for illustration, Net value is 90 per cent. of tace value.

The. hotel record slip D corresponds approximately in size with the envelop within which it fits. The card is providedwitli a date blank 29., in which may be indicated the date ot' deposit', and the card is further provided with columns 25 and 2G, and blanks 27 and 28a, which correspond with the columns 25 and Qttand the blanks 2T and 28,

The carbon slip D2 act-s as a transferlslip, 'so that when the figures are written upon `the envelop l), a iduplicate. record will beI made on the hotel record slip Df 'l`he manner in which theiiiiproved means are used may be describedl briefly'. The scripeissuing` company (X Hotel Scrip Com` pany) sells'to an employer` say Doe & Coinpanv, scrip-loooks for the traveling` salesmen oi Doe Qc-Company. may be done at a discount ot'. letlussa'tliiee per cent. of the ,face value of the sCrip-book. p In the meantime. the vscrip-issui.ngi:` company has arranged with the hotels throughout.V the country toreefeive the scrip 'lieu of cash in payment, of hotel bills,'thehotels agreeing to allotY ya discount ot', let us say, temper cent. from the face value of the scri p,..to the scri`p The front Atvthe bottom of the eolumns is a blank 27 set opposite the wordsen"elop C.

resets? issuing,r company. When the transaction with the employer (Doe & (o.) is completed, the ollice record coupon 2 is detached 'from the scrip-proper and is retained by the scrip-issuing company. being preferably pasted on the reverse side ot' the ollice tile. The holder ol the scrippresents. the scrip-book to a.hotel in payment. of his `bill; the. hotel cashier removes the requisite amount otA scrip to cover the bill the hotel, statement is applied or stamped upon the back ot the removed portion of the scrip, and serres as a hotel indorsemcnt; and as the hotel receives the scrip from various holders ot' .-:ci'ipl ook's, the hotel places the serip in the hotel deposit envelop, notincr on the envelop the number or" the scrip-book and the value ot' the accepted scrip. A record olE this data is transferred to the hotel record slip D'.l lVhen the hotel desires to make al depositit indorses the hotel deposit. envelop, notes upon the envelop the total face value of the 'scrip contained in the envelop, and the total net value, these items being transferred to the card or slip D. ln making'outits regular bank deposit slip, the hotel, lists, along with cheeks, currency, ete., hotel scrip to the amountof the net value to thel hotel of the scrip within the envelop. The scrip is then cleared in the same manner as checks, eventually finds its Way to one of' the main depositaries of the X Hotel Scrip (loiiipany, and tinallv is delivered. to said company. When the scrip from a given book has all Abeen delivered to X Hotel Scl-ip Company, said company returns the serip to the purchaser (Doe & Co.,) and retains the oilice file envelop C, upon which has been noted, in due course, the record of the portions of scrip returned to the 'scripissuing company, the numbers corresponding with the hotels which accepted the scrip, etc. As will be surmised from the foregoino, the scrip-issuing company assigns a number to each hotel with which the scrioissuingr company has a contract providing` for the acceptance of its scrip.

ri`he means provided for carrying this system into effect enables the purchaser of the scrip (the employer) to secure a dis count. The scrip-issuingr company is able to allow its discount and t0 meet its own operating` expenses and obtain a satisfactory profit from the larger discount allowed b v the hotels; and the hotcllains an advantage by the assured high class patronage which it receives by virtue. of the arrangement. The employer (Doc &\Companyl also is assured ot itemized accouutingsl which are made al'. the time the hotel bills are settled, so that; the employer assured ot' more accurate accountings than canI ordinarily be expected, and the chalice for fraud is largely eliminated. Moreover, the danger of losing or dissipatang funds, where large amount-s are carried on the person, is obvihted by this means.

The foregoing detailed description has Ibeen given for clearness o'l undtarstanding only and no unnecessary limitation should he understood therefrom but. the appended el aims should be construed as broadly as per-- `inissible in view of the prior art.

' What we regard as new and desire to se cure by Letters Patent is:

l.' Accounting and account adjusting means, coniprising a scrip-book having a signature blank for the holder ot` the book and provided with a serial munber, scrip having a corresptmdiug serial nunrber and provided with a column ci' value imlicating;l figures; and a hotel statement applied to the Scrip and bearing an itemized expens, ac-

count blank.

2. Accounting;` and account adjustingl means, comprising a scrip-book bearing a serial number and provided with a signature blank for the signature of the holder, scrip contained therein provided with a col'- respondingr serial number, and having' as a part thereof an ollice record coupon bearingl the same serial number and having,r a signa lure blank for the holder of the scrip-book, and an oflice file envelop bearinp; the same serial number and havinga signature blank for the signature, of the holder of the scrip book.

3. Accounting and account adjusting means comprising a scrip-book bearing 'a serial numbe.; and provided with a signature iblank for the signature ol the. holder, scrip' contained therein provided with a corresponding serial number, and havingr as a part thereof :in ollice record coupon bearingr the same serial number and having a sig-- nature blank for the holder ofthescrip-book, a hotel statement blank associated with thel scrip, and an office file envelop bearing the same serial number and having a Signature lgilank'for the signature ol the holder ot' the scrip-book.

4c. Accountingr and account adjustingY means, comprising; a scrii-book bearing: a serial number and. provided with a signature .blank for the signature ot the holder, scrip contained therein l.provided with a corre.- sponding serial mn'nber, and having as a part thereof an oliice record coupon bearing the same serial number and having alsignature blank for the holder of the scrip-book, and an oflice tile envelop for the use of the scrip issuing company bearing a signature blank for the signature of the holder 0f the scripbook and provided with columns 'for listing the hotels accepting; the corresponding scrip,

and the values of the scrip portions accepted by such hotels. l

5. Accountingr and account adjusting means comprising a book bearing a serial number and the signature of the holder,

fing the total face value of the scrip and the total, net value of the Scrip.

6. `ecounting and account adjusting means comprising a book bearing .a serlal number and the slgnature of the holder,

eerip bearing the namemf the sci 'ipdssuingr company, land the signature of the scripbook holder, and bearing also the same Serial number, ehotel Vdeposit envelop provided with a column adapted to receive scrip-book numbers and provided withzin associated column adapted to have. listed therein the valuesof. Scripportions taken from various Scrip-books, blanks beiner provided at the' bottom of said columns for listingy the total face value of the Scrip and the total net value of the scrip,v a hotel record slip rey eeived in said envelop and provided with corresponding columns and blanke, ,and a transfer slip received in said envelop.

7. Accounting; A and account' adjusting," meansg, comprising a scrip-book having a cover and scrip contained therein 'and pro- 4vided with a common serial'number. a hotel deposit envelop provided `.Vith u crip-book number column, and an associated column for recording ythe values o1E the aci-ip porn tions, and an oliice tile envelop for the scrip- -isniing company provided with a column fon-fl'iote'l numbers, a 'date column, and anx. amountcolumn.

8. rccoiilitiinf,r 'and account adjusting means, comprising a ecrip-bookhavingr a cover and scrip contained therein and pio vided with a common Serial numberl a hotel .deposit` envelop provided with a @Crip-book number column. a hotel record slip provided with corresponding columnal and received iu Said envelop,'and an associate-:l column Jfor 'recordingT the values et the ecripn portions1 and an olice lilo envelop Ytor the scrap-issuing company.' provided with a column for-hotel number@v` a date coluuun and :in amount column.

9. ccountinn' and account adjusting` means, comprising' a lecripbook having a` cover provided with a Serial number anda signature blank :tor the holder or the book. 'and having; scrip provided with the same serial number and provided with an olliee* recordeonpon bearing the same serial number, a hotelStat-ement blank associated with said scrip, a hotel deposit envelop providedv provided with means for identifying lv,he

scrip-book holder; and Scrip bearing the Same serial number and provided with an 'otlice record coupon having a signature blank t'or the signature of the holder of the scrip-book. v l

1l. In means oi the character eet forth, a Scripbook cover bearing a contract Settingr forth terme ot use of the scrip and provided with a signature blank for the 'sigmature ol' the holder of the book, said cover bearing' also a list ot' items tor which scrip will be accepted in payment, and a serial number, and serip in said book bearing` the name of the scrivi-issuing companyY and provided the Same serial numberlas the coter;

l2. ln means of the character set forth,

Athe combination of an otlice tile envelop bearing a serial number and a Signature blank.

for the name of the original holder, Said envelop having thereon a hotel number colunn'n a date column7 and an amount column; and an ottico record coupon associated thcrewith, said otlice record couponbearingr the.' same serial number and a Signature blank for the signature ot' the original holder.

13. ln means of the. character' setforth, the collnliiination of a hotel deposit envelop bearing; a 'blank for'the name of a bank where deposit is made and bearing a blank for the, name of the hotel which is to receive c1edit.,said envelop bearing a-scrip-book number column and an an'iount column for .with a signature blank for the signature/of. the vholder or' the book, Said Semp: bearing 

